Chapter 4
'You look beautiful, honey' Sara said as she straightened the halo on top of Hope's thick, wavy head of hair.
Hope nodded and scratched her forehead, causing the halo to slip once again, to her mom's dismay.
'Hope, don't touch it. You'll make it fall off again' her mom said, smoothing her hair.
'But it's itchy' Hope complained as her hand returned to scratch herself once again.
'Children!' Mrs. Winters called out as the kindergarteners prepared to step onto the stage.
'Now, go on honey. And have fun!' Sara called out, waving her daughter off.
The weather had dipped to below freezing outside but it paled in comparison to the frigid conditions indoors as everyone involved reacted to what had happened during the takedown that afternoon.
Sara was livid at Neal for treating her like a five-year-old and for putting the fear of God in her by stalking her all over town for the past several weeks. She was also miffed at Peter for barging in and commandeering the priceless painting, depriving her of her well deserved commission to say nothing of the bragging rights associated with its recovery.
Peter was angry at Neal for wasting government resources and for acting like a twelve year old by running around Manhattan in various disguises, spying on the cute red-haired girl and he was annoyed at Mozzie for lurking around a potentially dangerous crime scene.
Neal, on the other hand, was pissed off at Peter for keeping Sara's secret from him and he was angry at Mozzie for putting Sara in such a dangerous situation. But most of all, he was furious with his wife for going behind his back and asking for Peter's help instead of confiding in him.
And Mozzie…. well, Mozzie was angry at both Sara and Peter because his sweet deal had disintegrated right before his eyes, his only vindication being that Ronnie the Shark had been left empty handed and had been forced to submit to a grilling interrogation by Peter and his team.
Sara made her way back to join the rest of the family, already seated in the school gymnasium. She excused herself as she slipped into the row of chairs, gingerly maneuvering around Neal, ignoring him as she stepped over his feet and took a seat between Elizabeth and Mozzie.
Neal sat, face stern, staring ahead in angry silence while Peter crossed his arms decisively over his chest and glared over at his best friend. Sara's face, which had turned a shade of red to rival her hair, continued to pout, refusing to look at either of the two men as Mozzie remained uncharacteristically quiet and sullen.
The awkward silence grew unbearably loud and Elizabeth Burke finally spoke up, just as the concert was about to begin.
'That's enough!' she exclaimed, her anger directed at all of them. 'Stop it! All of you! Forget your petty little quarrels; we're here for Hope, so start acting like grownups, for heavens sake!'
Sara gave Neal a scathing look and he glared back at her, then at Peter, whose face softened a little in response to his wife's scolding.
The group of four-year-olds stepped onto the stage as the lights grew dim and everyone settled back to enjoy the show. Mrs. Winter's kindergarten class was first up and Neal and Sara both looked up as Hope entered, her halo askew, and took her place amongst her classmates, front and centre as she waved excitedly to her parents. The class began to sing a classic rendition of 'Silent Night', Hope's loud but off-key voice dominating the group as Neal gave a small chuckle. For all her wonderful qualities, his daughter - not unlike her mom - couldn't carry a tune in a bucket and he glanced over to see Sara's face start to relax and smile as she gave him a furtive glance.
By the time the concert ended, everyone's inflamed passions had begun to abate and the group stood around waiting for Hope to emerge from backstage.
'El and I are going to have to go upstate right after Christmas' Peter confided to Neal and Sara, looking sad. 'My uncle Nick passed away this afternoon.'
'Oh, I'm so sorry' Sara said, finally thawing from her earlier hissy fit.
Peter shrugged; it was sad to be sure but Uncle Nick had lived a long and happy life.
'Well, he was active until the very end' he said. 'I guess that counts for something.'
Neal stepped forward and despite their recent dispute, he immediately opened his arms to hug his best friend.
'I'm sorry, Peter' he said as Hope suddenly appeared, carrying a candy cane and smiling broadly.
'Hey, here's the star of the show!' Mozzie exclaimed as Hope glowed.
'Did you hear, Daddy?' Hope said. 'I sang nice and loud.'
Neal gave Sara an amused look. 'You sure did, sweet pea, I'm sure they heard you all the way in the back.'
After the usual goodbyes and hugs all around, the group disbanded. Christmas Eve was just around the corner and there was still much to do to get ready for the big day. Hope seemed exhausted and she grew quiet on the way home in the car.
'I think she's asleep' Sara whispered as she glanced at their daughter in the back seat. 'She must be exhausted.'
Neal smiled. 'Yeah, that was quite the performance' he said, tongue in cheek.
'Well, luckily she's not lacking in other talents' Sara agreed with a chuckle. '…although, I think we can safely rule out opening night at the Kennedy Center.'
Hope sat quietly, eyes closed, pretending to sleep; she wasn't sure what her mom meant by that last comment; she relaxed as the motion of the car gently rocked her back and forth.
'It's really is too bad about old Nick, dying with just two days till Christmas' Neal mused as he thought of his best friend.
'Yeah' whispered Sara. 'All I can think of is that sleigh full of gifts that will never get delivered.'
Hope's eyes sprang open. Oh, no! Santa had died and there would be no Christmas!
WCWCWC
'So, are we good?' Peter asked as he sat across from Neal, sharing a cup of coffee on Christmas Eve morning.
'I suppose…' Neal answered, still irate that his best friend hadn't seen fit to tell him what had been going on. 'But how would you feel if El told me something and I kept it from you?'
'Neal, I told you, Sara didn't want to worry you needlessly. We weren't even sure someone was really following her in the beginning. And in my defence, I did try to call you just before the bust.'
'Well… I learned my lesson' Neal said. 'Sara said I was on the naughty list and she made me sleep on the couch last night.'
Peter raised his eyebrows in response; Neal had been playing with fire by following his wife around without her knowledge and it was no surprise Sara had blown a gasket upon finding out what he'd been up to.
'Don't you think you might want to dial it back, just a little?' Peter asked. 'Sara is a grown woman and she's pregnant, Neal, she's not sick.'
Neal glared at his best friend; it was easier said than done when it came to controlling his impulses as it related to his wife and son's wellbeing.
Rather than to continue giving his best buddy unsolicited advice about his marriage, Peter thought it might be safer to change the subject.
'So, all set for the big day tomorrow?' Peter asked. 'Hope must be excited.'
Neal let out a sigh. 'Actually, she's been really upset. She cried herself to sleep last night. She's got it in her head that Santa died and that all the kids on the planet are going to be left high and dry.'
'Where did she ever get an idea like that?' Peter asked.
'I think it started when she overheard Sara and I talking about your uncle Nick being sick and then last night, we thought she was asleep in the car and we mentioned he had passed away. No matter what we say, though, she doesn't want to believe that we weren't talking about Santa.'
Neal grew thoughtful for a moment.
'You know Peter, there is one thing you could do to make it all up to me…'
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'Shhh. Be quiet!' Neal whispered as he added some rouge to Peter's cheeks. 'Hope will hear you.'
The two men were crammed into the tiny powder room on the main floor of the Caffrey home as Neal adjusted the fluffy white beard on Peter's face and fixed the belt around his rotund form.
'Why did I ever agree to this?' Peter complained. 'This suit is like a furnace.'
'It's just for a few minutes. …and you'll make your goddaughter the happiest little girl in the world' Neal reminded him.
'Fine…' Peter grumbled as he fiddled with the pillow that had been stuffed down his pants.
Neal's face lit up at the thought of bringing his daughter out of her present funk. 'So listen, give us about ten minutes to get her settled and to finish reading her bedtime story, then open the front door and start jiggling those bells… loudly.'
'Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it. What if she recognizes me?' Peter asked, suddenly concerned.
'She won't, Peter. We'll keep her up on the staircase. I just want her to get a glimpse of you putting the gifts under the tree and then you can leave' Neal explained. 'Oh, and don't forget to eat those cookies we left on the plate and make a fuss... say something about how good they taste. Hope and I made those together.'
Peter let out a long suffering sigh. 'Let's just get this over with. I'm dying in this suit.'
'Peter!' Neal reprimanded. 'Don't say that! That's exactly the kind of talk that got us into this mess in the first place.'
Peter glared at Neal from under his fur trimmed hat and adjusted the big, fluffy beard one last time. How had he gotten himself into this mess or rather how had he let Neal talk him into this in the first place?
Neal opened the door to the powder and peeked out, making sure the coast was clear. 'Now, remember, give us ten minutes' he whispered as he stepped out.
He turned one last time, poking his head back in. 'A few well placed 'Ho Ho Hos' wouldn't be amiss' he added as an afterthought as Peter rolled his eyes and pushed him out the door.
Neal made his way up the stairs, Sara's soft voice growing louder as he finally arrived in the doorway to Hope's room, spying his wife and daughter huddled together under the blankets.
'Hey sweetie' Neal said as he joined them on the bed. 'How do you like your new Christmas book?'
Hope sniffled and Sara gave Neal the evil eye.
'How are we going to have Christmas without Santa' Hope sobbed, throwing herself into Sara's arms.
'Honey, we told you. Santa's fine and he's coming tonight like he does every Christmas' Neal explained, running his hand through her hair.
'No, he won't' Hope cried. 'You're just saying that.'
Sara rolled her eyes; it had been a long twenty-four hours chock full of melodrama and she couldn't wait for it to all be over so she could get back to being annoyed at her husband for his latest indiscretion.
'Well, he could be here anytime, now' Neal warned, trying to sound excited. 'I think you should get some sleep and in the morning-'
He was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening in the distance and the faint sound of bells jingling.
'What was that?' he asked as Hope sat up to listen.
'That sounded like bells' Sara answered, right on script.
'Bells?' Hope repeated, wiping her eyes.
'Honey, you don't suppose it's Santa, do you?' Neal asked of Sara.
'Well…I don't know' she said, the excitement in her voice exaggerated. 'It's still a little bit early but… well, he does have a lot of places to visit tonight.'
Neal rolled his eyes at Sara's horrible delivery; this was no Oscar winning performance by any stretch of the imagination. She scowled back at him as Hope leaned in to listen.
'Come on, let's go see' Neal suggested as the three of them tiptoed out of the bedroom and out towards the staircase.
They could hear shuffling around down in the living room, boxes being moved over the sound of mumbling. Neal held Hope's hand as Sara followed, positioning themselves halfway down the staircase and sitting on the steps as Hope's eyes grew wide at the wondrous sight in the living room.
'It's Santa!' she whispered loudly as Neal and Sara looked on.
'Ho Ho Ho' came the booming voice in the living room. 'These are the best sugar cookies I've ever tasted. I'll have to ask Mrs. Claus to make some of these.'
Neal and Sara exchanged knowing looks; Peter was giving it all he had.
Hope's mouth dropped open as she listened to the jolly old man and her smile grew as she watched him move towards the tree in the corner of the room and remove some packages from his big, bulging bag.
'Now, let's see' they heard Peter's deep voice say. 'This is Hope Caffrey's house. Ah, yes… beautiful little girl. Dark brown wavy hair, blue eyes, pretty smile, sings like an angel.'
Hope looked from her mom to her dad, her eyes growing brighter by the second as she listened.
'She's been on the 'nice' list for four years now…' Peter continued, giving the performance of his life.
'Santa!' Hope screamed as she slipped out of her dad's grasp and ran down the rest of the steps.
Peter turned to face her, his wild eyes moving to Neal who'd caught up to her and was standing right behind his daughter. Neal had promised she'd stay at a distance and now, here she was, running towards him with her arms open wide as she threw herself around his legs and hugged him with all her might.
Sara and Neal watched with apprehension; now that she'd gotten a closer view, there was always the chance she might recognize her uncle Peter.
'Honey, Santa's in a hurry' Neal attempted, in an effort to distract the child from scrutinizing Old Saint Nick too closely.
'Ho, Ho, Ho' Peter clamoured as he patted the top of her head. 'Hope Caffrey, my little gingersnap!'
Neal was momentarily thankful that the only lights in the living room were those emanating from the brightly lit Christmas tree. That, and Peter's amazing delivery, would hopefully be enough to keep her from recognizing him and causing her to return to her previous state of despair.
'Santa, I thought you were sick' Hope confessed as she looked into his face.
'Sick? Of course not, my little darling' Peter answered as he patted his belly and gave a couple of more gratuitous Ho Ho Hos.
Neal watched in awe; if Peter ever wanted a second career, Broadway would be an obvious choice.
Sara intervened, taking Hope's hand and creating a bit of distance between the child and the old man but Peter was on a roll. He leaned in to look at Hope, suddenly fearless.
'Now, you continue to be a good girl next year. You're going to have a new little brother and he's going to need a big sister who can look out for him.'
'How did you know?' Hope asked, her eyes shiny and her smile bright.
Peter tapped the side of his nose. 'Santa knows everything' he said as he began to move towards the door.
Hope stood between her parents and stared, eyes wide and mouth agape as he prepared to walk away.
'Now, I better get back to the roof and check on Rudolph and the other reindeer. We have a lot more deliveries to make before tomorrow morning' he announced as he waved to the child and prepared to step out into the winter night.
Within seconds, a sound was heard as Peter ostensibly hit the side of the house with the shovel that sat at the front door and Hope's eyes widened even more as she threw herself into her dad's arms.
'That was Santa!' she shouted, now totally enchanted by the unexpected visitor they'd just had.
'Yes, it was, sweet pea!' Neal repeated. 'Yes, it was.'
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'So, does that get me off the naughty list?' Neal asked his wife as they made it to their bedroom, Hope finally sound asleep.
Sara gave him a wary smile. 'I suppose…'
'Well, maybe this will help' he said as he moved to the closet and pulled out a wrapped gift. 'Merry Christmas, Repo!'
Sara couldn't hold back a smile as she took the brightly colored package in her hands and proceeded to unwrap it with the same look of excitement Neal had seen in his daughter's eyes just moment before.
'Oh, my God' she said as she discovered a sculpture of herself in all her pregnant glory. 'Neal, it's beautiful.'
Neal just smiled smugly; at times like this, it was better to just let the art speak for itself.
Sara continued, animated. 'I had no idea this is what you were working on.'
'Well…' Neal said modestly as he brought his hand to caress her stomach. 'I just love touching your belly so much…it felt like, this time, a painting just wouldn't cut it.'
'Oh, honey, I love it' Sara said as she threw her arms around Neal's neck.
'So… now, am I forgiven?' he asked with a mischievous smile.
She hummed. 'As long as that smile is the only naughty thing about you… I suppose.'
Neal moved in a little closer, slipping in under the blankets.
'On one more condition' she said as he frowned.
She rubbed her baby bump and gave him a sweet smile. 'This little guy wants his lullaby.'
Neal let out a sigh of relief. That, he could definitely do.
La fin
